CINCINNATI - The AFC North race, just like so many Bengals games, is far from finished. Cincinnati has lost back-to-back games in overtime, wasting a chance to take a commanding lead in their division. Now the Bengals (6-4) are only one game ahead of the Ravens (4-5) and the Browns (4-5) in the loss column. Stirring comebacks have led to hollow endings in each of the past two games. And now, first place is no longer such a secure place. The Browns come to town on Sunday with a chance to sweep their season series and elbow their way into the front of the pack. "We pushed things forward very positively, now weve dug a little bit of a hole and weve got to climb out and play better this week against the Browns," coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday. Theyve become good at digging themselves out of holes, only to fall back in during overtime. They overcame a 17-3 deficit in the second half at Miami before losing 22-20 in overtime when Andy Dalton was sacked in the end zone for a safety. They overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit on Sunday at Baltimore, tying the game on A.J. Greens tipped catch with no time left in regulation. It wasnt enough as the Ravens won 20-17. Two strange endings. Rare ones, too. The Bengals are only the 16th team in NFL history to lose back-to-back games in overtime, according to STATS LLC. Miami was the last team to do it, dropping two in a row in OT last season. Cincinnati has played three overtime games this season, all on the road. The Bengals won in Buffalo 27-24, leaving them 1-2 in OT games. The NFL record for overtime games in a season is five by the 1983 Packers. Most overtime losses in a season? Three, by six different teams: 1983 Packers (2-3), 1983 Buccaneers (0-3), 1983 Oilers (0-3), 1997 Cardinals (1-3), 2010 Bills (0-3) and 2012 Jaguars (0-3). Theyre getting a lot of practice at it. "You cant simulate overtime," safety George Iloka said on Monday. "Weve had three overtime games this year, so that will come in handy later in the year with the P word, if were in that." He meant the playoffs. And Cincinnati is still in good position to get there. The Bengals have four of their last six games at home, where theyre 4-0. They also have a bye week coming. Only one of the last six teams they play has a winning record — Indianapolis, which has to play at Paul Brown Stadium. "We know what we have in front of us," cornerback Terence Newman said. "We just have to win some football games." One of the common themes in the two has been the offences horrible start. The Bengals managed only three points total in the first half against Miami and Baltimore. Dalton has followed the best three-game stretch of his career with two subpar games. Dalton has completed only 54 per cent of his passes in the past two games with two touchdowns, four interceptions and 10 sacks. His combined passer rating for the two games is 64.9, well below average. He repeatedly sailed passes on Sunday and took a sack in the closing seconds, forcing the Bengals to make a desperation throw. The pass was swatted around before it deflected directly to Green, who was to the side of the scrum for a 51-yard touchdown catch that sent it to overtime. Dalton was 24 of 51 for 274 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions on Sunday. Lewis defended his quarterback, saying he made a "brilliant" play to spike the ball with 2 seconds left after taking a sack with no timeouts left. Lewis said his receivers dropped five passes that made things much tougher. He noted that rookie tight end Tyler Eifert couldnt make a diving catch in the end zone while getting hit, forcing the Bengals to settle for a field goal on the opening drive of the second half. "But the great location of the ball by Andy, just where it needs to be against a defence he saw — again, another great play by Andy," Lewis said. "Weve got to help him out and finish the deal." Notes: The Bengals signed DE Aston Whiteside, a first-year player from Abilene Christian who spent most of last season on Chicagos practice squad and was released by the Bears on Oct. 8. The Bengals released DE DeQuin Evans, who has spent part of the past three seasons on their practice squad. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org Air Force 1 Off White Fake . The outdoor event will be played on Dec. 31 between alumni of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Air Force 1 Red Sale . The Jets have now won three straight at home and four of the last five at the MTS Centre. After a scoreless first period, Brad Marchand scored his first goal in eight games eight seconds into the second. http://www.airforce1storesale.com/fake-air-force-1-white-outlet.html . Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Air Force 1 Red Cheap .200. His solution to his hitting woes was business in the front and a party in the back."That would be a mullet," Norris says. Air Force 1 Off White Store . "Its not done, but its a huge step," Hannover general manager Dirk Dufner said. Poor defending allowed the visitors to score in the second minute, when Leon Andreasens header from Christian Panders cross sent the ball inside the far post.When Bill Belichick pulled something new from his bag of tricks last week, some wondered if the three-time Super Bowl champion coach had found another way to bend the rules.The New England Patriots were creative and intentionally deceptive, but using four offensive linemen isnt illegal.The tactic worked and angered the Ravens and coach John Harbaugh. Theres no telling what wrinkles Belichick and the Patriots (13-4) are planning for Sundays AFC championship game against Indianapolis (13-5).Its a situation that I saw another team use, kind of, Belichick said, explaining the unique formation. Then we talked about it and thought about ways maybe to put some pressure on the defence with that concept of having more receivers on the field than were actually eligible. To make them ineligible instead of making an ineligible guy eligible, to go the other way around. We came up with a few ideas.Got that?OK, heres a simple summary of what the Patriots did for three plays against Baltimore:(asterisk) Right guard Josh Kline came off the field.(asterisk) Backup tight end Michael Hoomanawanui entered and lined up where the left tackle traditionally plays but declared himself eligible.(asterisk) Left tackle Nate Solder moved inside to left guard.(asterisk) Running back Shane Vereen entered and lined up in the slot, but was technically the right tackle and therefore ineligible.That created confusion because the defence covered Vereen, thinking he was going to run a pattern. Hoomanawanui was allowed to run freely down the seam.Hoomanawanui caught two passes for 16 yards and 14 yards Harbaugh drew an unsportsmanlike penalty for going on the field to argue that his defence shouldve had more time to identify eligible receivers before the snap.After the penalty, Tom Brady tossed a touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski to cut the Ravens lead to 28-21.Nobodys ever seen that before, Harbaugh said. Its not something anybodys ever done before.Belichick said he expanded on another NFLs coachs idea, but didnt say who it was. Philadelphias Chip Kelly is known for his innovative strategies and he introduced a few of these formations right away in his first game in 2013.Kelly has used a three-man line with tackles Jason Peters and Lane Johnnson both split wide to opposite sides.dddddddddddd Hes used a formation where both tackles are on the same side. And, hes had Johnson line up in the slot.Kelly and Belichick are good friends and the Eagles and Patriots have practiced against each other the week leading up to their preseason games each of the last two seasons. Maybe they shared secrets.Oregon, Kellys former team, uses strange formations often, especially on extra-point attempts.The Detroit Lions ran a similar play in Week 6 where they lined up six offensive linemen with one of them split wide. It didnt work and Matthew Stafford was sacked on the play.Perhaps Belichick and offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels watched the Alabama-LSU game on Nov. 8. The Crimson Tide ran the same formation on the first play of overtime and 304-pound offensive lineman Brandon Greene caught a 24-yard pass to the 1. Greene lined up in the same spot the Patriots put Hoomanawanui.Hardly ever see only four offensive linemen in the game, former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn told the AP this week. And to put an ineligible player who wears an eligible number out at a wide receiver position is unique. On top of that, the play was well-designed where Vereen stepped back and acted like he was running a screen. Nothing illegal about it.Earlier last week, Hall of Fame coach Don Shula referred to Belichick as Beli-cheat in an interview. Thats a label Belichick has heard since the coach was fined $500,000 and the Patriots were fined $250,000 and stripped of their 2008 first-round draft choice by the NFL for videotaping New York Jets signals during a 2007 game.But trick plays arent cheating or even unusual. The Patriots tied the score later in the game on wide receiver Julian Edelmans 51-yard TD pass to Danny Amendola.Belichick doesnt expect anything to prevent the Patriots from using their new formation against the Colts.Id venture to say I couldnt remember the last time that I havent seen an eligible receiver report as an ineligible player in the NFL, Belichick said. I would say it happens in every game on the punt team. Youre allowed to do that. We did it.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org___Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi ' ' '